What Is a Good Internet Speed (and How to Test It)

"Why wouldn't you want to marry Bill Gates? I bet he has fast internet."

That's a quote from The Big Bang Theory, aka the geekiest TV show in the entire universe.

In the era where everything is done online, high-speed internet is the new holy grail. As a matter of fact, "Which café in this area has the speediest WiFi?" is something you hear/ask on a regular basis.

But what constitutes "a good internet speed?" How do you know if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) delivers their promises when it comes to speed? What are the factors that can affect your internet connection speed?

Answering all of the questions above is the objective of this article. By the end of it, you'll be able to declare yourself a master of speed (the internet kind) and to decipher ISP's offers!

Understanding the Internet Speed

The first thing you need to understand about the broadband speed is that there are two types:

Uploading speed with which you send data to the Internet

Downloading speed with which you receive data from the Internet

In general, when one is looking for a café with speedy WiFi, they're expecting a fast downloading speed. This is because most people use the internet to receive data, be it to surf the news, watch movies in streaming, listen to podcasts, and so on.

Sure, there are instances where you demand a fast uploading speed. For example, if you're a YouTuber who publishes large HD videos regularly. But most of us mere humans, regular Joes and Janes download more data than we upload them.

This is also the reason why the majority of packages offered by ISPs are not synchronous:

The downloading speed is usually bigger than the uploading one.

So, What's Considered a Good Internet Speed in 2018?

This question doesn't really have a black-and-white answer to it since there are multiple factors at play.

This should be sufficient for day-to-day use for one person who streams data like a regular internet user (watching DIY tutorials, procrastinating on Facebook, and so on).

Factors That Affect Internet Speed

BUT, as we stated earlier, many factors can affect your internet speed:

The number of people using the connection at the same time

The types of activity that a person does online

The type/power of device you're using to surf the web (although, nowadays most devices are built with the purpose of going online more efficiently)

To put these into perspective:

When that 25 Mbps broadband connection is used by a single person to scroll through Instagram, it'll result in a very satisfying experience.

However, if it's used by five people at the same time doing myriads of activities which include playing a heavy, multiplayer video game, things become complicated. It's very likely the gamers become frustrated while the Instagrammer still feels satisfied.

In a situation where there are multiple users, it's recommended that you have a minimum of 15 Mbps/person of broadband connection – for light to medium use daily. To go further with this, the FCC has compiled a useful internet speed guide here.

How to Check Your Internet Connection Speed

So, you're not sure if your ISP delivers their promises or if their service is worth your money.

There's a very easy way to test your internet connection speed!

Type 'check my internet speed' on Google, and you'll be able to find connection speed testers for FREE. Pick one.

Click go, start, or whatever it says.

Wait until the result of downloading and uploading speed is up.

Alternatively, if you'd like to see whether your internet speed is as advertised by your ISP, you can check out the official Broadband Map by the US government. You can also check in the map if you can or can't get a 25 Mbps broadband connection speed in your area.

What If Your Internet Speed Is Slower Than Advertised?

Before you get fumed up, you should check first if the cause is NOT you.